Storage battery carriers

ABSTRACT

A storage battery carrier having a pair of members pivotally connected to each other and, if desired, with one of the members being of greater length and projecting above the pivot point to provide a handle. The members may be biased toward each other and have laterally or inwardly directed, angular lower end portions in which openings are formed for engagement with the terminal posts of a battery. The openings have transverse dimensions substantially equal to the post diameter whereby cramping engagement is provided when lifting force is applied to the handle of the carrier and, preferably, are polygonal. The major portions of the members may be slotted longitudinally for slidable as well as pivotal connection by the handle whereby the resultant vector of forces holds the openings at the lower ends of said members engaged with the terminal posts.

United States Patent [72] lnvcntor John F. Sivadon 704 N. RobinsonDrive, Waco, Tex. 76706 [21] Appl. No. 812,546 [22] Filed Mar. 13, 1969145] Patented Mar. 30, 1971 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No.790,559, Jan. 13, 1969, now abandoned.

[54] STORAGE BATTERY CARRIERS 2,323,094 6/1943 Levin 3,226,148 12/1965Wiora ABSTRACT: A storage battery carrier having a pair of memberspivotally connected to each other and, if desired, with one of themembers being of greater length and projecting above the pivot point toprovide a handle. The members may be biased toward each other and havelaterally or inwardly directed, angular lower end portions in whichopenings are formed for engagement with the terminal posts of a battery.The openings have transverse dimensions substantially equal to the postdiameter whereby cramping engagement is provided when lifting force isapplied to the handle of the carrier and, preferably, are polygonal. Themajor portions of the members may be slotted longitudinally for slidableas well as pivotal connection by the handle whereby the resultant vectorof forces holds the openings at the lower ends of said members engagedwith the terminal posts.

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" sum 1 0F 2 INVENTOR. JOHN F. .S/VADO/V ATTORNEYS PATENTEnmsolsn3572,8023

SHEET 2 UF 2 VII Tiff?? 28 INVENTOR. JOHN F .S/VADO/V ATTORNEYS SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION A storage battery carrier havinga pair of elongatemembers or arms pivotally connected to each other. If desired, one ofthe arms may be of greater length and have its medial portion pivotallyattached to the upper end of the shorter arm whereby the upper endportion of the longer arm provides a handle. The arms may be biasedtoward'each other and have gripping elements in the form of angularbrackets or clips at their lower ends. One of the flanges of eachbracket extends transversely inward so as to underlie one of the armsand has an opening, preferably polygonal, for engagement with one of theterminal posts of a storage battery. The openings have transversedimensions substantially equal to the diameter of the terminal postswhereby opposed marginal portions of said openings cramp against opposedportions of said posts when sufficient lifting force is appliedto thehandle of the carrier so as to cant or tilt the brackets relative tosaid posts. It is desirable to provide the openings with sharp edges formore positive or biting engagement with the terminal posts. Preferably,the brackets are formed separately of the arms and are secured theretoto permit at least one of said brackets'to be electrically insulatedfrom its arm.

The carrier is of inexpensive, simple construction which is sufficientlyrugged to permit lifting and handling of batteries, of different sizesand having different posts spacings, with minimum effort. Even thoughthe cramping action provides positive connection between the carrier andterminal posts, said carrier is readily engageable with anddisengageable from said posts. Due to the inward biasing of the arms,accidental disengagement of the carrier is substantially prevented whensaid carrier is inadvertently lowered relative to said battery.

Instead of being formed by the upper end portion of one of the arms ofthe battery carrier, the handle may be'separate of said arms and extendlaterally thereof. In this embodiment, each carrier arm has alongitudinal slot extending throughout its major portion for engagementby one end of the handle so as to be slidably as well as pivotallyconnected to the other arm. One of the gripping elements may be in theform of a flat plate or flange extending laterally from the lower end ofone of the arms in the same direction as the handle, while the othergripping element may be in the form of an angular bracket or clip,similar to the brackets of the first embodiment, having an upstandingflange secured to and insulated from the lower end of the other orsecond arm and a lateral flange parallel tothe lateral gripping plate orflange of the first arm and extending in the same direction. Openings,substantially identical to the gripping openings of the firstembodiment, are provided in the lateral gripping flanges for crampingengagement with the battery terminal posts upon the application ofsufficient lifting force to the handle. Due to the pivotal and slidableconnection of the carrier arms by the handle and the consequentinclination of said arms, the gripping openings are held in engagementwith the terminal posts by the resultant vector of forces.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of abattery carrier, constructed in accordance with the invention, inlifting engagement with the terminal posts of a storage battery;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the carrier in nonliftingengagement with the battery which is shown in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the carrier in expanded position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on theline 44 of FIG. 2, the negative terminal post being shown in brokenlines;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken onthe line 5-5 of FIG. 3, of the noninsulated gripping element of thecarrier in nonlifting engagement with the negative terminal post whichis shown in broken lines;

FIG. 6 is a view, similar to FIG. 5 and taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3,showing the insulated gripping element of the carrier in nonliftingengagement with the positive terminal post;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the noninsulated grippingelement in lifting engagement with the negative terminal post;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the inventionin battery lifting position;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on the line IO-IO ofFIG. 8; and

FIG. II is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 11-11ofFIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawing, the numeral lldesignates a battery carrier embodying the principles of the inventionand including a pair of elongate members or arms 2 and 3 having grippingelements 4 and 5 at their lower ends for engagement with the negativeand positive terminal posts N and P of a storage battery B. The

arm 2 is of greater length than the arm 3 and has its medial portionpivotally attached to the upper end of said arm 3 by suitable means,such as by a clevis 6 and pivot pin 7 (FIGS. 1- 3). A handle 8, whichmay be angular, is provided by the upper end portion of the arm 2 whichoverlies the shorter arm 3. For constantly urging the shorter arm towardthe lower portion of the longer arm, a suitable spring 9, preferablyhelical, extends between and is connected to said arms below their pointof connection and closer to such point than to the gripping elements 4and 5. Preferably, the arms are cylindrical and may be formed from metalrods or similar material.

Each of the gripping elements is identical and is in the form of anL-shaped bracket or clip having a pair of flat flanges I0 and IIdisposed in right angular relationship. The lower extremities of thearms 2 and 3 are bent inwardly at an obtuse angle, as shown at 12 andI3, and terminate in flattened portions I4 and 15 for parallelengagement with the upstanding flanges 10 of the brackets 4 and 5,respectively. The bracket flanges III are suitably secured, such as bypairs of rivets I6 and 17, to the flattened arm portions 14 and IS inexternal relationship and the bracket flanges II extend transverselyinward so as to underlie the arms. If desired, the brackets may be madeintegral with the lower end of the arms. As shown in FIG. 6, a pad 18and grommets 19 of dielectric material insulate the flattened portion I5of the arm 3 from the flange 10 of the bracket 5 and said portion andflange from the rivets 17 to prevent the flow of current between theterminal posts N and P or other short circuiting of the battery B whenthe carrier 1 is engaged therewith. A polygonal opening 20 is formed ineach bracket flange II for engagement with one of the terminal posts andhas transverse dimensions substantially equal to the diameter of saidposts. Preferably, each opening 20 is diamond shaped and has itsgreatest dimension extending longitudinally of the flange. For morepositive engagement with the terminal posts when the brackets are formedof relatively thick material as illustrated, the perimeter of eachopening is provided with a continuous sharp edge 21 which may be formedby complementary beveled surfaces (FIGS. il).

In using the battery carrier I, the brackets 4 and 5 are engaged withthe terminal posts N and P of the storage battery B (FIGS. 4-6) bythreading the openings 20 of said brackets over said posts. Due to thepivotal connection of the arms 2 and 3, various spacings of the terminalposts may be accommodated by the carrier. Although either bracket may beengaged with either terminal post, it is desirable to connect theinsulated bracket 5 to the positive terminal post P to prevent anypossibility of short circuiting the battery. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,the tension of the spring 9 maintains the brackets in engagement withthe terminal posts. Upon lifting of the carrier by the handle 8, thearms swing inwardly so as to cant or tilt said brackets and incline theflanges 11 thereof relative to the posts (FIGS. 1 and 7). Since theopenings have transverse dimensions substantially equal to the diameterof the posts, opposed portions of the edges 21 of said openings arecramped against opposed portions of said posts to provide connectionssufi'icient to permit lifting and handling of the battery by thecarrier. This engagement is more positive when the edges of the openings20 are sharp since such edges tend to bite into the terminal posts.

Although of inexpensive, simple construction, the battery carrier ofthis invention is most efficient and facilitates lifting and handling ofstorage batteries with minimum effort as well as minimizes damaging ofsaid batteries. It is noted that the spring tends to prevent accidentaldisengagement of the carrier from the battery when said carrier isinadvertently moved downwardly relative to said battery.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 8- 11 and includesa battery carrier 31 having a pair of relatively flat, elongaterectilinear arms or members 32 and 33 having gripping elements 34 and 35at their lower ends for engagement with the negative and positiveterminal posts N and P of the storage battery B. The arms 32 and 33 aresubstantially identical and have longitudinal slots or elongatedopenings 36 and 37, respectively, extending throughout the majorportions thereof from their upper end portions to points above theirlower end portion. As shown, the carrier arm 32 may be of less lengththan the arm 33 and its gripping element 34 may be in the form of anL-shaped bracket or clip which is similar to the gripping elements 4 andwhich has similar upstanding and lateral, flat flanges or plates 38 and39 disposed in right angular relationship. Suitable fasteners 40, suchas rivets, secure the upstanding flange 38 of the gripping element tothe lower end portion of the shorter arm (FIG. in overlying, parallelrelationship, insulating pads 41 of dielectric material being interposedbetween and overlying said flange and arm lower end portion, whereby thecombined length of said arm and flange are substantially equal to thelength of the other arm. Also, the portions of the rivets 40 extendingthrough the gripping element flange and arm lower end portion areinsulated therefrom by surrounding grommets 42 of dielectric materialwhereby the flow of current between the terminal posts N and P or othershort circuiting of the battery B is prevented when the carrier 31 isengaged with said posts. The gripping element 35 may be in the form of aflat plate or flange extending laterally from the lower end of the arm33 parallel to and in the same direction as the lateral flange 39 of thegripping element 34 as well as in approximately the same relation to itsarm and the longitudinal slot thereof.

Due to the upward convergence of the carrier arms and consequentinclination thereof, it is readily apparent that the lateral flanges ofthe gripping element 34 and 35 extend at acute angles to said arms.Openings 43, identical to the openings of the transverse bracket flanges11, are provided in the lateral flanges of the gripping elements andhave indentical, continuous, sharp marginal edges 44 (FIGS. 10 and 11)when said gripping elements are formed of relatively thick material. Forpivotally and slidably connecting the arms 32 and 33 as well asproviding a handle for the carrier 31, a relatively short, cylindricalrod 45 extends laterally from said arms and, preferably, parallel to andin the same direction as the lateral gripping element flanges 35 and 39.The inner end of the handle-forming rod 45 bears against one of thecarrier arms (FIG. 9) and has a cylindrical, coaxial bore or opening 46for receiving a headed, complementary fastening pin 47 which extendsthrough the slots 36 and 37 and which may be pressfitted in the bore toprevent its separation from said rod. Due to this connection of thehandle-forming rod to the arms 32 and 33, the vector of forces resultingfrom the upward movement of said rod when the openings 43 are engagedwith the battery terminal posts causes the marginal edges 44 of saidopenings to crampmgly engage the battery terminal posts N and P so as topositively connect the carrier to the battery.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials. as well as the detailsof the illustrated construction may be made, without departing from thespirit of the invention.

lclaim:

1. A storage battery carrier including:

a pair of elongate upright rectilinear members having slots extendinglongitudinally thereof;

handle-fonning means extending transversely of the elongate members andhaving a portion thereof slidably engaged in the slots so as topivotally connect said members to each other;

a gripping element rigidly secured to the lower end portion of eachmember and having at least a portion thereof ex tending transversely ofthe member;

the transverse portion of each gripping element having an opening forengagement with one of the posts of a storage battery;

the openings having transverse dimensions substantially equal to thediameter of the battery terminal posts whereby opposed marginal portionsof said openings are cramped against opposed portions of the posts whenthe handle-forming means is slid upwardly within said slots so as topivot the lower portions of said members toward each other and cant thegripping elements relative to the posts; and

the slots being of extended length to permit said gripping elements tomaintain the same relative positions with respect to the terminal postsregardless of the distance between said posts.

2. A storage battery carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein thetransverse portions of the gripping elements are disposed insubstantially parallel relation to the handle-fonning means.

3. A storage battery as defined in claim 1 wherein the handle-formingmeans includes a cylindrical rod having an axial pin at one end slidablyconfined in the slots of the elongate members.

4. A storage battery carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the gripping elements is in the form of an angularbracket having a pair of flat flanges;

one of the flanges of the bracket extending diagonally of the otherflange in parallel overlapping relation to the lower end portion of oneof the elongate members for rigid attachment thereto; and

said other bracket flange forming the transverse portion of saidgripping element.

5. A storage battery carrier as defined in claim 1 including means forinsulating the attached flange of the gripping element bracket from theelongate member to which it is rigidly secured.

1. A storage battery carrier including: a pair of elongate uprightrectilinear members having slots extending longitudinally thereof;handle-forming means extending transversely of the elongate members andhaving a portion thereof slidably engaged in the slots so as topivotally connect said members to each other; a gripping element rigidlysecured to the lower end portion of each member and having at least aportion thereof extending transversely of the member; the transverseportion of each gripping element having an opening for engagement withone of the posts of a storage battery; the openings having transversedimensions substantially equal to the diameter of the battery terminalposts whereby opposed marginal portions of said openings are crampedagainst opposed portions of the posts when the handle-forming means isslid upwardly within said slots so as to pivot the lower portions ofsaid members toward each other and cant the gripping elements relativeto the posts; and the slots being of extended length to permit saidgripping elements to maintain the same relative positions with respectto the terminal posts regardless of the distance between said posts. 2.A storage battery carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the transverseportions of the gripping elements are disposed in substantially parallelrelation to the handle-forming means.
 3. A storage battery as defined inclaim 1 wherein the handle-forming means includes a cylindrical rodhaving an axial pin at one end sliDably confined in the slots of theelongate members.
 4. A storage battery carrier as defined in claim 1wherein: at least one of the gripping elements is in the form of anangular bracket having a pair of flat flanges; one of the flanges of thebracket extending diagonally of the other flange in parallel overlappingrelation to the lower end portion of one of the elongate members forrigid attachment thereto; and said other bracket flange forming thetransverse portion of said gripping element.
 5. A storage batterycarrier as defined in claim 1 including means for insulating theattached flange of the gripping element bracket from the elongate memberto which it is rigidly secured.